Causes of Hair Loss and Tips to Help
I’ve always had so much hair that it hurt my head to wear it up in a ponytail or a bun. Then. I had a kid and everything shifted. I’m most definitely not saying postpartum causes hair loss, but it’s indirectly involved. When pregnant, you stop losing hair and in the postpartum phase your body has to catch up so it seems like tons is falling out. For me though, there was more to it. Gut health and hormone health played a role leading to my hair being half a thick as it used to be. This motivated me to share some causes of hair loss so if you’re struggling, you know what to do.
I also received a DM on Instagram yesterday from a follower asking me if a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) is a good testing option for hair loss. She let me know she had just ordered food sensitivity testing (IgG) instead so I want to clarify what I would do to investigate hair loss so you don’t waste any money. I wouldn’t order food sensitivity testing - even if foods are bugging you. Why? Because it’s usually not the food, it’s your gut most often. We often like to blame foods which just leads to more and more restriction. This deserves it’s own blog post, but I wanted you to know my stance on IgG testing.
What Do I Recommend for Hair Loss Then?
Diet
Ensure you’re eating enough protein. Ideally, 1.2-1.6g per kg of bodyweight. Many people are getting the bare minimum of .8g per kg andif you’re moderately active or in perimenopause you need more
1-2 brazil nuts per day for selenium and thyroid support
Zinc rich foods for thyroid support: oysters, pumpkin seeds, cashews, chickpeas, eggs
Lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, spinach for non heme iron sources. Pair plant iron with vitamin C (citrus, berries, peppers) for better absorption and avoid taking with caffeine
NORA tea steeped overnight. Nettle, oatstraw, red raspberry and alfafa for minerals and nervous system support
Getting omega 3 foods or ALA plant compounds for reduced inflammation and a source of healthy fats. Reach for salmon, sardines, mackerel, chia, hemp, walnuts, flax seeds (ground at home)
Lifestyle
I briefly mentioned it, but supporting your nervous system is important for hair loss. Stress can be a big contributor so evaluate your lifestyle. It’s important to note that there are many types of stress: emotional, acute, physical, biological, social
Acupuncture is great for overall stress, but also for increased blood flow to the scalp
Labs
Ask your Dr to run your ferritin, ideally a full iron panel, however I’ve yet to see a client with a Dr who will order that
How’s your Vitamin D? I know it costs $70 to test it, but it’s worth it. Most people are supplementing and still low in this essential vitamin that acts like a hormone in our body
Check your thyroid health, Again, Doctors often only do TSH due to provincial regulations, but we need a full panel. Your antibodies will show high years before your T4/T3/TSH are impacted. This is actually how I diagnosed myself with hyperthyroidism (Grave’s Disease). I asked an ND I know if she could order me a full panel and voila, postpartum I had positive antibodies. You can read more about hypothyroidism here and hyperthyroidism here
Your gut health impacts nutrient absorption. H. pylori lowers stomach acid which impacts the general breakdown of food as well as B12 and Iron (needed for hairgrowth)
Your gut health also impacts thyroid autoimmunity. A parasite blastocystis hominis and the bacteria H. pylori have both been linked to thyroid conditions so get on top of your gut health!
A GI-MAP stool test .. you knew this was coming. Rule out pathogens that are stealing your iron and causing inflammation. I offer this test with an intake, detailed 2-3 months protocol as well as an hour call to review testing and allow for questions. Head here if you’re interested in getting ahead of your health or addressing current symptoms
A DUTCH test can provide insights to hormone health, but I always recommend starting with the gut. The DUTCH test will show your androgen levels and if you lean towards the 5a androgenic pathway. This is commonly seen in clients with PCOS, hair loss and hair on the face. We can use herbs, such as reishi, to inhibits 5-alpha reductase androgenic pathway. I like this brand here and code JORDAN15 saves you money! This brand only uses the mushroom (fruiting body) and no starch (the root)
HTMA testing, as mentioned above, is amazing to make sure you’re minerals are where they need to be. Unfortunately, blood is not a great way to test minerals as they live in the tissue of the body (hair, bones…). Your body will always pull from tissues to keep the blood at a sufficient level so it’s very rare it will show up low - even though it may be in your tissues. Stress and trauma depletes minerals which make digestion harder, hair loss easier and fatigue more common
I hope this brings you some clarity and a path forward to investigate hair loss. It’s important to acknowledge alopecia is a posibility and this is an autoimmune disease diagnosed by a doctor.
Want to invest in testing and work together? Apply here.